Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Semester in Peru: Learning and Living Abroad Past Review

By (Providence College) - abroad from 02/04/2012 to 05/19/2012 with

SIT Study Abroad: Peru - Indigenous Peoples and Globalization

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was definitely worthwhile. I learned a lot about myself and what kinds of things I like/don't like about my American culture and Peruvian culture. I gained more of an appreciation for American culture, but also more of an admiration for the struggles people of Peru have gone through. It was also amazing to see things I've read about first hand, which has informed me in ways no book could ever do.

Review Photos

SIT: Cusco - Indigenous Peoples and Globalization Photo SIT: Cusco - Indigenous Peoples and Globalization Photo SIT: Cusco - Indigenous Peoples and Globalization Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The ISP portion of the semester was very intense and rigorous (and extremely rewarding!) but the remainder of the academic work during the semester lacked that same spirit.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? Yes
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $25

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Fluent
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Spanish Composition
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
  • Apartment
  • Hotel
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Independent Study Project (ISP)
  • Excursions (to the Amazon, Lake Titicaca, Lima, Colca Canyon)
  • Friendly/supportive staff
* What could be improved?
  • Language instruction
  • Academic rigor
  • Clarity of expectations for assignments
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I didn't know Cusco was such a tourist-driven city; this made for almost always feeling like a tourist myself, and feeling as though the locals were selling their culture instead of sharing it. I also didn't know that while Peru is a country home to dozens of indigenous cultures, there is not really an indigenous movement in the country; had I know that, I might have chosen a country who has a little bit of a stronger social justice history than Peru.